Explosive-gas engine.



No. 65H40. Patented Sept. 4, |900. G. W. STARR & J. H. COGSWELL.

EXPLDSIVE GAS ENGINE.

(Application filed Dec. 23, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

Witwen-oo No. 65H40. Patented Sept. 4, |900. y

G. W. STARR & J. H. COGSWELL.

EXPLOSIVE GAS ENGINE.

(Application filed Dec. 23, 1899.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shoal 2.

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Q @an V W WW@ i J No.'657,|40. Patented Sept. 4, |900.

G. W. STARR & J. H. COGSWELL EXPLUSIVE GASENGINE.

(Application filed Dec. 23, 1899.)- (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

pill/111011111017729 Elli, @wi/tucasa@ ma No ums PETERS ce, Pwnrxumo.,WASHINGTON, n4 c,

No. 657,!40. Patented Supt. 4, |900. G. W. STARR & J. H. CDGSWELL.

EXPLUSIVE GAS ENGINE.

(Application led Dec. 23, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheei 4.

(No Model.)

,Iii

@fw-Lime wasy 'rrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE IVATSON STARR AND JOHN HENRY COGSWELL, OF HAVANA,

ILLINOIS.

ExPLosivE-GAS ENGIN.

SPECIFICATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,140, datedSeptember 4, IS; 4

Application filed December 23,1899. Serial No. '741,376Y (No model.) i YT rtl/f vwhom t Netty concern:

Be itl known that we, GEORGE VATSON STARR and JOHN HENRY CoGsWELL,citizens of the United States, residing at Havana, in the county ofMason and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Explosive-Gas Engines; and we do declare the followingtobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswillenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tothe characters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in explosive-gasengines; and

. in carrying out the present invention it is our purpose to generallyimprove upon the engines of this character upon which we have beengranted Letters Patent Nos. 585,127 and 611,3ll and to produce meanswhereby the loss of gasolene from evaporation during the working strokesof the engine is reduced to a minimum.

The invention relates, further, to the pro vision of means whereby whenthe revolutions of the engine are above normal the induction-valve isautomatically held seated and the exhaust-valve prevented from seating,the various parts, however, assuming their operative positions when thespeed of the engine resumes its normal ruiming condition.

More specitically, the invention consists in lproviding anii'lduction-valve having a hollow stem which is designed to prevent theunnecessary evaporation of the gasolene as it issues from thesupply-pipe by cutting oit the contact of the air with the gasolene whenthe induction-valve is seated and the provision of a pivoted free-endedlever which' at one end engages the stern of the induction-valve, whileits opposite end is tilted by an anglelever carrying a pivoted pawlacting as a stop in cooperating with a collar on theexhauststemgvlierebythe exhaust-valve may be held from seating and the induction-valveseated when the revolutions of the engine are above normal.

To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain, the sameconsists, further, in the novel construction,combination, and adaptationof parts,as will be hereinafter more fully described and then specicallydefined in the appended claims.

Our invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which,with the charactors of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisapplication, and in which drawings similar characters of referenceindicate like parts throughout the several Views, in which- Figure lisaside elevation of our improved explosive-gas engine. Fig. 2 is averticalsectional View through the induction-valve and gasolene-feedin gchamber, parts being shown in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a verticalsectional view through the induction-valve,stem, and chamber andfeeding-pipes and supplytank. Fig. t is a sectional view transverselythrough the stern of the exhaust valve,

showing the insulated conducting members.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the cylinder, showing the wedge-shapedmember which is operated by the governor. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectionalview centrally and longitudinally through the cylinder, showing theelectrodes and the manner of separating same to produce theigniting-spark as the piston is driven to its outward throw. Fig. 7 is adetail View of the mu'liier. Fig. 8 is a detail View showing a pump usedin connection with the engine. Fig. 9 is a detail View of the tiltingarm which is actuated by a governor of the engine.

Reference now being had to the 'details of the drawings by letter, Adesignates' the cylinder in which the piston B reciprocates, the stem ofsaid piston being connected to a crank on the main operating-shaft C.Adjacent to and communicating with said cylinder through theperforations d is the combustion-chamber D. Connected to thecombustion-chamber is the shell or casing E, through which the vaporizedgasolene passes into the combustion-chamber. In the drawings said shellor casing is shown as having screw-threaded connection with thecombustion-chamber; but the connection may be made in any other suitablemanner. Working vertically in said shell is the induction- ICO valve F,having a beveled edge, which is designed to be seated on the inclinedwall e of the shell. In order to guide said valve in its verticalmovements, projections F' extend down from the under face of said valveand bear against the inner walls of the shell or casing E. Secured tothe valve F is a stem F2, which is transversely apertured, as at f, saidaperture being somewhat elongated, as shown, and having its `lowermarginal wall double-beveled. The portion of the stem below saidaperture is hollow, as at f', and the lower end of the stem has its wallbeveled, as at f2, ,and rests normally on the collar G, whichsurrounds-the upper end of the aperture G', centrally and verticallydisposed in the lower end of the shell or casing E. At right angles tothe shell E and having screwthreaded connections therewith is thevalvechamber H, which is centrally and longitudinally apertured, as ath, and having a lateral opening, in which the lower threaded end of thegasolene-overlow pipe H' is fitted, and the bore of said overflowgasolene-pipe communicates with the duct h in chamber I-I. Thegasolene-supply-regulating valve I has threaded connection with thethreads in the duct h, and its inner end is tapering and is adapted tobe seated against a tapering portion of the wall of said clearly in thedrawings. The stem of said supply-regulating valve passes through asuitable threaded cap l' and at its outer end is provided with the wheelI2, having the indieating-pointer la, the free end of which is adjacentto the registered dial I4, whereby the amount of gasolene being fed maybe determined.

The supply-tank J has connection with the duct in the chamber H throughthe pipe J', and supply-pipe J 2, Fig. l, communicates between saidsupply-tank J and the main reservoir or tank J3, suitable check-valvesj' being disposed in said pipe J2 on either side of the pump K. Thispump has a stem which is connectedby means of a rod tothe eccentricmounted on the main operating-shaft, whereby the supply of gasolene isdrawn from the main supply-tank to the tank J, the overflow passingthrough the pipes J 5 back to the reservoir J3, suitable vent-pipes J4being connected to and having communication with the return-pipes.

Leading from an aperture J 7, near the lower end of the shell E, is areturn-pipe which conveys the superlluous gasolene that overflows thetop of the pipe H' and which is not vaporized and carried into thecombustionchamber. Opening laterally into the interior of the shell E isan aperture E2, Fig. 3, said aperture being preferably opposite theupper end of thel overow-pipe H', so that the inrushin g air as theinduction-valve rises vwill come in contact with the gasolene and,vaporizing same,carry it into the combustion- 'chamberl It will be notedthat the lower end of the hollow stem F2 is normally seated on duct h,as shown the upper edge of the collar G, so that the surrounding airwill not come into contact with the gasolene excepting when theinduction-valve rises. Any gasolene which may overflow the pipe I-I whensaid hollow valvestem is seated over the upper end of the collar G willpass down the outer wall of the overlow-pipe and escape through theaperture J7 and pipes J5 and return to the supplyreservoir. Mounted insuitable bearings in the wall of said shell E is a lever L, having avpivotal movement in its bearings, one end of this lever being disposedin the aperture f in the stem F2, whereby as said lever is tilted thethrow of the induction-valve may be regulated. 'The outer end of thelever L is disposed in the path of one arm M of the anglelever M', whichlatter is pivoted, as at m, to the casting on which the engine ismounted.

Mounted so as to reciprocate horizontally in an extension D' of thecombustion-chamber is the stem N, which carries at one end theexhaust-valve N', which is designed to be seated, as at N2, on aninclined portion of the inner wall of the combustion-chamber. A duct N8leads'from the combustion-chamber to the outside atmosphere, and securedover the outlet end ot' said duct is preferably a muffler N4, Fig. 7,'havin g a series of perforations in its circumference whereby the noisefrom the exhaust may be deadened. If desired, this muffler may bedispensed with and pipes connected to the exhaust-port for conveying theburned products outside of a building if the engine is ruu within aninclosure.

Mounted on the stem N of the exhaustvalve is a collar O, which issecurely fastened thereto by set-screw or other means, having its upperand lower edges fiat, and the rear face, or the face ot the collartoward the cornbustion-chamber, abuts against a shoulder on the stem N.On the opposite face of said collar is a notch O', and underneath saidcollar and adjacent thereto is the free end of the pawl P, which latteris pivoted to the upright arm M2 of the lever M. Integral with thecasting forming a part of the frame of the enginesupport are the twocylindrical members Q and R. The former member Q, which is horizontallydisposed, contains a plunger Q', the head of which is held in cont-actwith the edge of the upright arm M2 of lever M' by means of a coiledspring Q2. Mounted in the vertical cylindrical member R is a plunger R',over the top of which a cap R2 is carried, which cap is held adjacent toor in contact with the under edge of the pawl P. The lower end of theplunger R' rests on the upper edge of the wedge-shaped governor-actuatedmember S. (Shown in cross-section in Fig. 2 as passing through anaperture in the cylindrical member R and in elevation in Fig. 5 ofthedrawings.) An adjusting-screw 'm' is mounted in an aperture in the armM2, and its inner end is designed to bear against the cylindrical memberR, and as said screw ITO is turned in or out the throw of the lever M isregulated, which in turn will limit the throw ofthe induction-valvethrough the medium of the arm M and lever L.

Secured to the extended portion of the combustion-chamber is a bar D2,which serves to prevent the collar O and stem from rotating.

Mounted on the stem N are the two conductor-plates T, Fig. 4L, which areheld t0- gether with bolts T', a suitable insulation T2 being interposedbetween said plates andthe stem N, and T4 is a metallic conducting-rodcarried by one of said bolts, and its free end bears against aninsulated angled arm U, which is mounted on a screw U', a suitableinsulation U2 being interposed between said arm and the screw U'. Thisscrew U is carried by a projecting portion U of the casting" Laterallyextending from the of the frame. arm U is a projection ed, against whichthe free end ofthe rod T4 engages, as shown clearly in Fig. 4 of thedrawings.

The eccentric-rod WV, which is connected to the eccentric XV', mountedon the main shaft, is pivoted to a pin W2, carried by a sliding blockW2, designed to reciprocate inthe box W4, and in the recessed end of theeccentricrod is carried one end of the circuit-breaking spring orflexible rod V5, said rod being held in place by means of a set-screwW6. From the construction illustrated in the drawings it will be notedthat the forward end of the eccentric-rod has a slight tilting movementon the pivot W2, as the eccentric-rod reciprocates by the rotating ofthe eccentric, so that as said eccentric-rod is thrown to its outwardlimit the free end of the circuit-breaking rod will be raised to itshighest limit and will lower and rest upon the angled end of theinsulated arm U to complete the circuit immediately before the charge ofgas in the cylinder is compressed and in readiness to be ignited. Afterthe explosion takes place in the cylinder and as the eccentric-rod isdriven in the opposite direction the end of the circuitbreaking rodslips olf the angled end of the insulated arm and the circuit is broken.It will thus be seen that only at the moment when it is desired toutilize the current of electricity is the circuit complete.

Connected to the end of the cylinder is a threaded shell V, whichcontains a bushing or thimble V', and having screw-threaded connectionwith the shell Vis a threaded cap X, and slidingly held in said bushingor thimble is an elect-rode V2, one end of said electrode passing intothe cap X and provided with jam-nuts X. Interposed between the outer ofthe two jam-nuts and the end of the shell X is a com pression-spring X2,which serves to throw the electrode V2 to its inward limit. Near the endof said electrode, which is disposed in the cylinder,are thelaterally-extending projections V3, which serve to limit the forwardthrow of the electrode by their coming in contact with the secondelectrode Y, through which the extreme inner end of the electrode V2passes, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. This second electrode Y isheld in the supporting member Y and fastened by means of a set-screw Y2.The stem of the supporting member Y passes through an aperture in theend of the cylinder, a suitable insulating material being interposedbetween the stem and the wall of the aperture through which said stempasses, and a binding-screw Y2 holds one end of the electric wire of acircuit.

' Mounted on the end of the piston-head B is a lug B4, the end of whichis preferably scalloped or eoncaved, and the purpose of this lug is toseparate the two electrodes by the contact of said lug against the endof the electrode V2 at each outward throw of the piston, whereby a sparkis caused in the cylinder in which the gas has been compressed. On thereturn movement of the piston the electrode V2 will, under the tensionof the spring X2, resume its normal position.

In order to lill the reservoir J before the engine is put intooperation, after which the gasolene is pumped by the power ofthe'engine, we provide a hand-lever 9, whereby the pump may be actuateduntil the engine is in operation.

To the insulated collar T an electrical wire TX is connected,representing one pole of an electric current, while the other pole isconnected to any convenient part of the engine, so that the current fromthe second pole will be conveyed through the circuit breaking rod W5.

The wedge-shaped governor-actuated member S, Fig. 5, is actuated bymeans ot' a lever S", (shown only in cross-section in the drawings,)said lever Sx being longitudinally adjustable on the stem of thewedge-shaped member by means of the threaded nuts SY. This lever isidentical with the usual governor-actuated levers and is mounted to tilton a pivot. (Not shown, but similarly as shownin our Patent No.585,127.) There being uo novelty claimed for the features connected withthis governor-regulatin g mechanism, the details of its construction arenot deemed necessary to be shown.

In operation the reservoir is first filled with gasolene by means of thehand operated pump, the gasolene being drawn through the suction-pipe J2and forced into the reservoir. As the gasolene passes over the reservoirJ when the latter becomes filled, the surplus gasolene runs down throughthe return-pipe Jand thence back to the main supply-tank J3. When thegasolene-supply valve I is opened, gasolene will pass through the pipe J,throu gh the duct h, and up through the overflow-pipe H, and, runningover the top of said pipe H, will run down on its outside surface andany surplusage of the gasolene which is not taken up and vaporized andcarried into the cylinder will run through the aperture J7 into thereturn-pipe J5 and back to the tank J3. As

the iiy-wheel of the engine is tu rncd by hand,

IOS

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it will be readily understood that the piston is drawn forward, and byso doing a vacuum is formed in the cylinder, and as a consequence theinduction-valve F is raised from its seat and the vacuum will cause theair to rush in through the opening E2 and come into contact with theoverlowin g gasolene at and about the top of the pipe Il', access of theair to the gasolene being had as the lower hollow end of the stem F2rises from the upper edge of the collar G surrounding the upper end ofthe overiiow pipe. As soon as the piston reaches the end of its throwthe suction ceases and the valve F is seated by gravity, assisted by aspring Q8, which acts indirectly upon the stem of the induction-valve.On the return movement of the piston the gas previously drawn into thecylinder becomes compressed and as the piston approaches the end of itsthrow the lng B4 on the end of the piston strikes against the end of theelectrode V2,and as the electrodes separate from each other a spark isproduced, which ignites the charge of compressed gas. The force of theexplosion drives the piston back. Immediately before 'the lug on thepiston strikes the electrode to separate same from the second electrodethe electric-circuit-breaking rod has been thrown forward by theeccentric-rod and presses on the angled end of the insulated arm U,completing the circuit; but after the spark has been produced and on thereturn 'throw of the eccentric-rod the end of the circuit-breaking rodslips ed the angled end of said arm and the current is broken, thussaving a useless waste of batteries or other source of electricalenergy. As the piston reaches the outer limit of its travel theeccentric actuates the exhaust-valve by forcing the latter inward, andthe burned products of the gas are allowed to escape through the portleading to the muffler or other connecting pipe. The piston being forcedvback by the momentum of the fly-wheel another charge is drawn in andthe operation is repeated. In the event of the speed of the enginebecoming above normal when the governor-actuated wedgeshaped member isactuated the plunger R' and cap R2 are caused to be raised up, which inturn causes the pawl P to be thrown up into the path of the notchedcollar O as the piston is thrown to its outward limit. On the returnthrow of the piston the fre-e end ofsaid pawl will come into contactwith the notch in the collar and prevent the exhaustvalve from seating.comes into contact with the free end of the pawl the angle lever M willbe tilted on its pivot and the arm M will bear against the outer end ofthe lever L, which will cause the inner end of the latter to bearagainst the wall of the aperture in the stem of the induction-valve andhold said valve seated, thus making it impossible for any vaporized gasto be drawn intothe combustion-chamber. As the piston reciprocates inthe cylinder air will be drawn in and expelled As the notched collar/through the exhaust-port. After the speed of the engine diminishessufficiently to cause the wedge-shaped end of the governor-actuatedmember to withdraw from underneath and contact with the lower end of theplunger R the cap R2 will lower and the pawl P will drop by gravity toits normal position, the exhaust-valve will be allowed to be seated, andthe inrluc-tion-valvel will open as the suction is created in thecylinder. In the event of the speed becoming suilicient to raise thepawl when the collar O is directly above the free end of said pawl thecoil-spring about the plunger R comes into play and allows Athe pawl toyield slightly, said pawl being thrown up in advance of the collar whenthe stem of the exhaust-valve is at its farthest forward throw.

" It willbe observed that as the exhaust-valve is held from its seat thecontact-rod T4 occupies the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l,which breaks the current, thus preventing a waste of the electricityduring the idle strokes of the engine.

The hand-operated pump, before referred to, which is operated by handuntil the engine is started and does the pumping, consists of the piston6, (shown clearly in Fig. 8,) having pivoted to its outer end a link 7,which in turn is pivoted to one end of the rod 8, which has pivotalconnection with the eccentric. Integral with said link is an arm 9,having a fork-shaped member l() at its free end, which is normally heldto the rod 8 when the engine is operating the pump by means of a screwll; but when the pump is operated by hand the screw ll is withdrawnsufficiently to allow the free end of the arm 9 to swing out, as shownin dotted lines in Fig. l, and

IOO

the arm is fulcrumed on the pivotal pin l2, A

the rod 8 remaining stationary, said arm adapted to be worked as anordinary pumphandle. A

Having thus described our invention, what we claim to be new, and desireto secure by .Letters Patent, isc 1. In an explosive-gas engine,theinduction and exhaust valves and stems thereto, an oscillatingangle-lever, a pivoted pawl carried by one arm of the latter endserving, in cooperation with a collar on the exhaust-stem, as a meansfor preventing the exhaust-valve from seating, a tilting lever havingfree ends, one of which serves to hold the inductionvalve seated as theopposite end is engaged by an arm of said angle-lever, governor-actuatedmechanism for raising said pawl independently of the angle-lever as therevolutions of the engine become above normal.

2. In an explosive-gas engine,theinduction and exhaust valves and stemsthereto, an oscillating angle-lever, a pivoted pawl carried by one armof the latter and serving as a stop to prevent the exhaust-valve fromseating, a tilting lever having free ends, one of which serves to holdthe induction-valve seated, and the gasolene-feeding duct closed as theoppo- IIO site end of said free-ended lever is actuated by an arm oftheangle-1ever,and the governoractuated mechanism for raising said pawlindependently of the angle-lever as the revolutions of the engine becomeabove normal.

3. In an explosive-gas engine, the cylinder, combustion-chamber,operating-shaft, piston, eccentric and eccentric-rod, the exhaust valveand stem actuated by said eccentric-rod,a tilting lever having one endextending through an aperture in the stem of the induction-valve, anangle-lever pivoted to the engine, one arm of said angle-lever engagingwith the tilting lever, and a pawl carried by an arm of said angle-leverfor preventing the exhaust-valve from seating, and a governor-actuatedniember for operating said levers, as set forth.

4. In an explosive-gas engine, the cylinder, pistoncombustionchamber,induction-valve, and apertured stem, a tilting leverone end of which passes through said stem, the exhaust valve and stem, acollar on the latter, an angle-lever, a pivoted pawl on one armthereof,the other arm of the angle-lever adapted to tilt theexhaust-stem-engaging lever, the eccentric and rod connected thereto,and the governor-actuated wedge-shaped member for tilting the anglelever,whereby the inductionvalve will be held seated, and theexhaustvalve prevented from being seated.

5. In an explosive-gas engine, the cylinder, combustion-chamber,operating-shaft, eccentric and rod connected therewith, the piston, theinduction-valve and apertured stem, a tilting lever having one endpassing through said aperture, an angle-lever having an arm engagingwith and designed to actuate said tilting lever, and a spring-actuatedplunger bearing against the second arm ofthe angled lever whereby theind notion-valve is seated, as set forth.

6. In an explosive-gas engine, the combination of the cylinder, piston,operating-shaft, eccentric and rod,connected thereto, thecombustion-chamber, the induction-valve seated in a suitable shell, astem to said valve, an exhaust valve and stem, a tilting lever one endof which passes through an aperture in the stem of' the induction-valve,an angled lever pivoted to the engine, a spring-actuated plunger bearingagainst an arm of said angled lever, a set-screw carried by the latter,and a stationary member against which said screw bears to limit thethrow of the induction-valve, as set forth.

7. In combination with the cylinder, the piston, operatingshaft,eccentric and rod con nected thereto, the combustion-chamber, theinduction-valve and stem, the tilting lever mounted in the casingsurrounding the induction-valve and stem, one end of said lever engagingin an aperture of said stern, the pivoted angle-lever, one arm of whichengages the outer end of said tilting lever, the spring-actuated plungerbearing against one arm of the angled lever, the pawl pivoted to one endof the angle-lever,the spring-actuated plunger and wedge-shapedgovernor-actuated member on which the latter rests, the cap bearingagainst said pawl, the exhaust valve and stem, the collar havingiiattened upper and lower edges and notched to receive the free end ofsaid pawl, as shown and described. S. In combination With the cylinderand combustion-chamber, the exhaust valve and stem, the flattenededgedcollar abutting againstashoulder on said stem, the induction valve andstem, the angled lever and tilting lever, the pawl, the spring-actuatedcap, and plunger and governor-actuated wedge-shaped member, and theguide-bar secured to the wall of the combustion-chamber, and extendingover said collar, as shown and described.

9. In an explosive-gas engine, the combination with the cylinder,combustion-chamber and exhaust-valve, and means for operating same, theinduction valve having a stem which is hollow at its lower end, a supplypipe over which the lower end of said hollow stem is adapted to beseated, and means for holding said stem with its lower end seated overthe supply-pipe, and the exhaust-valve from seating when the engine runsabove a normal speed, as set forth.

l0. In combination with the cylinder, the combustion-chamber, theexhaust-valve, the induction-valve and hollow and apertured stem, thegasolene-supply pipe over which the lower hollow end of the stem isadapted to be seated, a pivoted lever passing through the aperture insaid stem, and means for tilting said lever, to hold the lower end ofthe hollow valve-stem seated over the gasolene-inlet, and theinduction-valve seated, while the exhaust-valve is held from seating asthe speed of the engine rises above normal, as set forth.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE VATSON STARR. JOHN HENRY GOGSVVELL.

Witnesses:

DOUGLAS WRIGHT, EMMA WRIGHT.

IOD

